Our 2,052 km Road Trip from Windsor to PEI: Stops, Costs and Two-Day Route

Every summer, Grace and I make the long drive from Windsor, Ontario, to Prince Edward Island.

We are both originally from the East Coast but have lived in Ontario for more than a decade, so this route has become a familiar part of our summers. It covers approximately 2,052 kilometres, passes through four provinces and takes us through or around two of Canada’s largest cities.

On this particular trip, Lily Mae was six years old and joined us for the two-day drive in our Jeep Compass.

Rather than treating the journey as something to endure, we try to make it part of the trip. That means stopping for apple treats in Ontario, visiting giant dinosaur statues in Quebec, driving through the world’s longest covered bridge in New Brunswick and pausing for our first proper view of the Confederation Bridge.

Watch the full road trip below, then keep reading for our route, overnight stopping point, trip costs and the roadside attractions we enjoyed along the way.

It is technically possible to make the Windsor-to-PEI drive in one extremely long push, but that is not how we prefer to travel.

More than 2,000 kilometres in one stretch would mean a tiring day, very little flexibility and fewer opportunities to stop when Lily or either of us needed a break.

Instead, we divide the route into:

• A longer first day from Windsor to Montmagny, Quebec
• A shorter second day from Montmagny to Charlottetown

This arrangement gets most of the Ontario and Quebec driving behind us on the first day. We can then wake up rested, enjoy New Brunswick and reach PEI without arriving extremely late.

Travel time can vary substantially depending on Toronto and Montreal traffic, road construction, weather, rest stops and the time of departure. We therefore avoid planning the drive too precisely.

We began in Windsor and travelled east across Highway 401.

The first portion of the trip includes some of Ontario’s busiest stretches of highway. Getting through the Greater Toronto Area is an important early milestone, particularly when traffic is moving well.

Once we were east of Toronto, it was time for one of our regular Ontario road-trip stops.

The Big Apple in Colborne is an easy place to recognize thanks to the enormous red apple beside Highway 401.

We enjoy stopping because it is more than a gas-and-washroom break. There are apple-inspired baked goods, food and outdoor attractions that give you a reason to walk around before returning to the vehicle.

During its operating seasons, the property offers activities such as mini golf, a petting zoo and access to its large apple-shaped observatory. Many outdoor activities are free, although schedules and availability depend on the season and weather.

For us, the essential part is picking up something from the bakery and taking a photo with the giant apple.

Even during a year when we do not have time for a long visit, it remains a convenient opportunity to stretch our legs and properly break up the Ontario portion of the drive.

After Colborne, we returned to Highway 401 and continued east toward Quebec.

The weather changed as we entered the province, welcoming us with rain. Fortunately, it did not last for the remainder of the drive.

By the time we travelled past Montreal, we had already been on the road for approximately nine hours.

That is when the value of intentional stops becomes especially clear. A short break can reset the day, particularly when you still have several hours of driving ahead.

One of our favourite unusual stops is Madrid 2.0, near Drummondville, Quebec.

The location is difficult to miss because of the enormous dinosaur statues positioned around the property. It also has fuel and food options, allowing us to accomplish several things during one stop.

We can:

• Refuel the vehicle
• Use the washrooms
• Get something to eat
• Walk around
• Take photos with the dinosaurs
• Give Lily a break from the back seat

It is exactly the type of roadside stop we appreciate during a drive this long. It is convenient but also unusual enough to become part of the trip itself.

The dinosaur statues have been associated with the property through both its original Le Madrid identity and its later Madrid 2.0 redevelopment.

After approximately 12 hours on the road, we reached Montmagny, Quebec, where we stopped for the night.

Montmagny has become our preferred halfway point, although it is not the exact mathematical middle of the route.

We like it because:

• The hotels are close to the highway
• We have generally found reasonable accommodation prices
• It is a comfortable place to stop after a long first day
• It leaves us with a shorter and more enjoyable second day

Our hotel cost approximately C$160 for the night and included a continental breakfast.

The longer first day works well for us because we begin the trip with more energy. By the second morning, PEI feels noticeably closer and we can make more time for stops in New Brunswick.

During this trip, fuel prices ranged from approximately C$1.45 per litre in Ontario to around C$1.80 per litre in parts of Quebec and New Brunswick.

Those prices made this particular summer drive more expensive than some of our previous trips.

Our final trip costs included:

We set an early alarm, had the hotel’s continental breakfast and picked up coffee from Tim Hortons before returning to the highway.

Approximately two and a half hours later, we crossed into New Brunswick, the third province of our journey.

Day Two feels different from the first day. The major Ontario and Quebec cities are behind us, the roads feel more relaxed and the East Coast portion of the trip is underway.

The Hartland Covered Bridge was a stop we had wanted to make during previous drives but had never properly worked into the route.

This time, we made the detour.

The bridge crosses the Saint John River and holds the distinction of being the longest covered bridge in the world. It measures approximately 390.75 metres, or 1,282 feet. The original bridge opened in 1901, and after ice damage in 1920, it was repaired and fully covered by 1922.

We drove through it twice.

There is something satisfying about entering the long wooden structure, hearing the change in road noise and emerging on the other side of the river. The length is much easier to appreciate when you are travelling through it than when viewing it only from outside.

Visitors can also use the pedestrian walkway to experience the bridge more slowly.

The detour added time to our day, but it was worthwhile. After driving this route so many times, adding a landmark we had previously passed gave the journey something new.

Long drives require additional planning when Lily is with us.

During this trip, she spent much of her time relaxing in the back seat, taking treats and watching what was happening around her. Grace also used some of the quieter stretches to catch up on sleep.

We build Lily’s stops into our own breaks rather than waiting until she becomes uncomfortable.

That means stopping periodically for:

• Water
• A bathroom break
• A short walk
• Food or treats when appropriate
• Time outside the vehicle

The Big Apple, Madrid 2.0 and our other fuel stops gave all three of us opportunities to reset.

We also keep her securely positioned in the vehicle rather than allowing her to move freely while we are driving.

There is a noticeable emotional change once the highway signs begin mentioning Prince Edward Island.

The long road trip suddenly feels close to completion.

One of the familiar sights is the large potato statue outside Blue Roof Distillery, after travelling through the Port Elgin area. It is another small but recognizable indication that we are approaching the Confederation Bridge.

Soon afterward, the bridge begins appearing in the distance.

No matter how many times we make the drive, that first view remains exciting.

Before driving onto the bridge, we turned into Cape Jourimain to get a better look.

Cape Jourimain is located at the New Brunswick end of the crossing, and its observation areas provide some of the best views of the Confederation Bridge.

Stopping here gives you an opportunity to appreciate the bridge’s scale before travelling across it.

From the road, it can be difficult to understand how far the structure extends. From Cape Jourimain, you can see it stretching across the Northumberland Strait toward Prince Edward Island.

For travellers making this trip for the first time, I highly recommend allowing time for this stop rather than driving directly onto the bridge.

The Confederation Bridge connects New Brunswick with Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island.

The curved bridge is 12.9 kilometres long, opened to traffic on May 31, 1997 and is recognized as the world’s longest bridge crossing ice-covered water.

It takes us approximately 15 minutes to cross under normal conditions.

Before the bridge opened, travellers reaching PEI by road relied on ferry service. The bridge created a permanent year-round highway connection between the Island and mainland Canada.

Crossing into PEI is free. The round-trip toll is collected when vehicles leave the Island through the Borden-Carleton toll plaza.

At the time of this article’s publication, the official posted toll for a vehicle with its first two axles is C$20. The bridge operates around the clock and does not require a reservation, but travellers should check the official website for current tolls and travel advisories.

When our tires reach PEI after two long days of driving, the journey feels almost complete.

We still need to continue from Borden-Carleton to Charlottetown, but we are back in familiar territory.

Our major route points were:

• Windsor, Ontario
• Greater Toronto Area
• The Big Apple in Colborne
• Montreal area
• Madrid 2.0 near Drummondville
• Montmagny, Quebec
• Hartland, New Brunswick
• Port Elgin area
• Cape Jourimain
• Confederation Bridge
• Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island
• Charlottetown

The total journey was approximately 2,052 kilometres.

A route map on the page would help readers understand that some of our roadside stops required small detours rather than being directly beside the primary highway.

• Divide the drive into two days
• Make the first day longer
• Avoid planning around an exact arrival time
• Make stops part of the experience
• Research fuel stops in advance
• Pack food and water
• Carry supplies for your dog
• Book the overnight hotel ahead of time
• Check bridge conditions before travelling
• Stop at Cape Jourimain

A hotel stop makes the journey more manageable and leaves room for unexpected traffic, construction or weather.

For us, reaching Montmagny on Day One makes the second day much more enjoyable.

Toronto and Montreal traffic can quickly affect the schedule. Treat your estimated arrival as a range rather than a deadline.

The Big Apple, Madrid 2.0 and Hartland Covered Bridge turned necessary breaks into memorable parts of the trip.

There can be long stretches where your preferred fuel or food options are less convenient. We avoid letting the tank become too low.

Keeping drinks and snacks in the vehicle reduces the need to buy something during every stop.

We bring Lily’s water, food, treats, leash and other essentials where they are easy to reach.

Summer travel can make roadside hotels busier, particularly on weekends and holidays.

High winds, maintenance or other conditions can affect Confederation Bridge traffic. Check official advisories before reaching the crossing.

The view makes the bridge crossing feel more like an experience and less like the final section of highway.

We would use essentially the same two-day structure again.

Montmagny continues to work well as our overnight point, and we would revisit all four of the featured stops depending on timing.

The Big Apple and Madrid 2.0 are particularly useful because they combine practical road-trip needs with something enjoyable to see.

Hartland Covered Bridge requires more of a detour, so it may not become an every-year stop. However, we were glad to finally experience it.

Cape Jourimain is the perfect final break before entering PEI.

For us, absolutely.

Flying would be faster, but driving allows us to bring more belongings, travel with Lily and have our own vehicle for an extended East Coast visit.

It also allows the transition between Ontario and Atlantic Canada to happen gradually.

We see the landscapes change, move through four provinces and experience the excitement of getting closer to home one road sign at a time.

After 2,052 kilometres, seeing the Confederation Bridge appear on the horizon feels like a reward.

And once we reach Prince Edward Island, the road trip may be over, but the summer adventure is only beginning.